lx 
INTRODUCTION. 
objeCt which cannot but deferve the attention of enlight¬ 
ened man. To exert our faculties in deviling ingenious 
modes of fatisfying ourfelves about the magnitude and 
didance of the fun; to extend our acquaintance with the 
fydem to which that luminary is the common centre, by 
tracing the revolutions of a new planet, or the appearance 
of a new comet; to carry our bold refearches through all 
the immenlity of fpace, where world beyond world rifes to 
the view of the adoniflied obferver; thefe are employ¬ 
ments which none but thofe incapable of purfuing them 
can depreciate, and which every one capable of purfuing 
them mud delight in, as a dignified exercife of the powers 
of the human mind. But while we direCt our ftudies to 
diftant worlds, which, after all our exertions, we muft 
content ourfelves with having barely difcovered to exift, it 
would be a ftrange negle6t, indeed, and would argue a 
moll culpable want of rational curiofity, if we did not ufe 
our belt endeavours to arrive at a full acquaintance with 
the contents of our own planet; of that little fpot in the 
immenfe univerfe, on which we have been placed, and the 
utmod limits of which, at lead: its habitable parts, we pof- 
fiefs the means of afcertaining, and defcribing, by aCtual ex¬ 
amination. 
So naturally doth this reflection prefent itfelf, that to 
know fomething of the terraqueous globe, is a favourite 
objeCt with every one who can tafte the lowed rudiments 
of learning. Let us not therefore think fo meanly of the 
times in which we live, as to fuppofe it poflible that full 
judice will not be done to the noble plan of difcovery, fo 
Aeadily and fo fuccefsfully carried on, fince the acceflion of 
his Majedy; which cannot fail to be confidered, in every 
iucceeding age, as a fplendid period in the hidory of our 
country^ 
